The Doctor sat in the dark of the hold. Once his head had cleared, his temper had flared and he'd hammered on the walls of the hold. But after a few minutes, it became apparent that he was being ignored and he calmed slightly.

But his anger was still seething, because he couldn't see his son.

If they had harmed him in any way; they would not see another day.

The distinct smell of human blood reminded him that he wasn't alone. The man who he know knew as a police officer was in the hold with him

Ash, he'd said his name was and now he had time to think about why he was attracted to him.

Yes, his looks had something to do with it, but still there was something; he couldn't quite put a finger on it.

He'd had no desire for anyone but the Master...until now.

A groan told him that he was coming round.

The last thing Ash remembered was the sound of a shot and then blinding pain.

When he finally opened his eyes, he thought he was blind.

"You're not blind, it's dark."

It was the other man...no, the Doctor.

"Still think that's a weird name."

He heard the Doctor laugh.

He let out an 'oww' when he moved.

"I wouldn't move, bolt shot through the leg."

"Wondered why my leg hurt," he replied.

"Sarcasm a part of police training is it," the Doctor replied.

Ash let out a grunt of pain as he hauled himself up and he jumped when a hand grabbed his arm and helped him sit against the side of the hold.

"Any idea who they are?"

"Not a clue, but they managed to locate the TARDIS...that's my ship, the blue wooden box."

"That's a ship...bit small. But never mind that, the kid, your son?"

"Yeah."

"You married?" he asked, hoping for a negative answer.

"Was," the reply came.

"She didn't like the idea that you played left field as well as centre?"

"He died."

That was unexpected.

"You adopted the kid?"

There was silence...then.

"No, not adopted, gave birth to."

Ash digested that statement; they could do a lot of things now, but men getting pregnant and giving birth, that wasn't one of them...which meant.

"You're not human?"

"Bingo," the Doctor said. "Is that a problem?"

It was worded as a question, but it was a loaded one.

"Nope, you have a problem with me being human?"

"No," came the softly spoken reply and a hand touched his arm.

A sudden jolt sent pain through his leg and the Doctor withdrew his hand.

"We've arrived."

"Want to see something interesting?" Jason said.

"What?" Jack replied.

"I was listening to the police chatter and one of their officers hasn't reported in, and get this, it's the undercover cop they sent in. But this is the killer, he was last seen talking to someone who matches the Doctor, right down to his chucks."

"And that helps us how?"

"All Intersol officers are fitted with internal trackers. Don't you see, this guy must be with the Doctor. We can track him."

"But won't Intersol be doing that?"

"That's where our young friend Seska comes in handy. He managed to block them, but we can still track him."

"Sneaky."

"Yup and guess what, the signal's stationary."

"Which means they've stopped. But I sense a but coming."

"The place they've stopped, it makes Selt look like a monastery."

Seska had found himself by default, the tech; but he would be, Time Lord Science was more advanced, and he was more than willing.

He wanted his mother and his brother back; without him he felt so alone. Sure there were the others, but he didn't feel close to them...well maybe Donna.

It was Donna that had questioned the idea that his mother had run away and that he would never forget.

Donna had gotten bored watching the three men discussing tactics, so she went to find Seska.

He looked so lonely and frightened and that wouldn't do.

She sat down opposite him and said. "We'll find them. If I know your mum, they'll throw him at us."

Seska looked at her and she could see the doubt in his eyes.

"This place they've taken him to...Jason says it's outside the law, run by pirates, thieves and crime lords. By the time we get there, they could already be gone."

Donna decided to change the subject. "Tell me about your father. I know it's hard...I lost my dad not so long ago,"

Seska hesitated. "He was...dynamic, harsh sometimes and he loved my mother with a passion, to the point of possessive and I miss him and my sister."

Donna nodded. "I miss my dad too."

She saw that Seska was trying to hold back tears. "It's all right to cry, you know your mum's like that. If I didn't know he wasn't human, I'd have taken him for one of the stiff upper lip brigade."

Seska lowered his head and the tears finally flowed.

"I don't want to be an orphan...I don't want my mother to be sad...I want my father and my sister back."

Donna moved next to him and put her arm round his shoulder. "We all want things we can't have. You have to focus on the things you have...like your mum and your brother."

Someone clearing their throat made them look up.

It was Draz.

"Seska, your assistance is required."

Seska wiped away his tears, smiled at Donna and then left with Draz.

Donna looked after them and sighed. "When did it get so complicated for you, spaceman?"

The Doctor and Ash blinked at the glare from the white sand.

The Doctor looked round, hoping to see Jakaar.

"Move," growled one of their abductors and shoved him forward.

It was then that he saw Jakaar being carried out of the craft, but he wasn't put with them; it seemed like they were waiting for something.

The something appeared in the distance, a blur in the heat haze.

It turned into a vehicle...two vehicles.

One looked liked a prison transport and the other, if he could believe his eyes was a limousine; a limousine on a planet light years and centuries away from Earth.

The Doctor suddenly had the feeling that something was very wrong.

Both came to a halt and the door to the limousine opened and the feeling became even more intense...then it turned to fear, when a very unwanted person stepped out.

Ash noticed the change in the Doctor and he felt him tremble...whoever this man in the white coat was, he couldn't be good.

"Who is this guy?" he said.

There was no answer, so he chanced a glance at the Doctor.

His face was a mix of fear and anger and as the man in the white coat approached, he snarled.

White Coat approached his property and as he did, he heard it snarl.

"That won't do. It seems you've forgotten your place."

He turned to the man that was watching the pair and nodded.

"A lesson is needed."

"Do it!" the other man shouted.

What happened next was seared into Ash's mind and he would see it every time he closed his eyes, till the day he died.

One of the men standing next to the Doctor's son pulled out a hand gun.

"What are you doing?" the Doctor said.

"Your first lesson...disrespect will be punished," the man in the white coat said.

Ash turned to the Doctor, the awful realisation of what was about to happen making his stomach turn.

"No...you can't...not even you...please," the Doctor said in a horrified tone.

The man in the white coat actually laughed.

Then that shot rang out and a small body fell in a heap; a bloody hole in its head. But what scared Ash most was the Doctor's reaction.

He never cried out or screamed bloody revenge. He just fell to his knees and silent tears ran down his face.

The man in the white coat seemed unfazed by the murder of a child.

"Put that in the transport."

"What about this one?"

"Him too, he'll be useful for something."

"What about the body?"

"Don't waste time burying it...leave it for the scavengers."

The Doctor didn't even resist as he was dragged to his feet.

The man in the white coat stepped right up to him and said.

"Lesson learned...I hope."

With that the man turned away and walked back to the limousine and Ash and the Doctor were dragged to the other vehicle and pushed inside.

As both vehicles disappeared into the heat haze, the scavengers began to circle.